On running a pre-processor [RE: XForms timer]

Hi Leigh,

Yes, you can of course use XForms to create an approximation of 'Google
suggest' functionality, by using a combination of a submission, two
instances, and a select1.

But to really get it right you require an input (using incremental), an
output, a repeat, some focus in and out handlers, a 'value changed' handler,
and some script for keyboard events. Unfortunately, whilst it's true that
this creates a reusable, generic, pattern, wiring these pieces up is far
more than we want authors to have to do. Ideally they would just provide a
select1 with an extra attribute or two, and everything else would be worked
out for them.

My point though, was that if we (as in formsPlayer) unilaterally start
adding such attributes to formsPlayer because we need these features
*today*, we start to move away from the standard. We obviously don't want to
do that, but at the same time we can't stand still; running a pre-processor
step that converts 'simple XForms with a sprinkling of non-standard
attributes' into 'complex XForms that religiously adhere to the standard'
(and therefore will run in many processors) seemed to me to be a pretty good
compromise.

Best regards,

Mark

Mark Birbeck
CEO
x-port.net Ltd.

e: Mark.Birbeck@x-port.net
t: +44 (0) 20 7689 9232
b: http://internet-apps.blogspot.com/
w: http://www.formsPlayer.com/

Download our XForms processor from
http://www.formsPlayer.com/

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Klotz, Leigh [mailto:Leigh.Klotz@xerox.com] 
> Sent: 16 May 2006 23:00
> To: Mark Birbeck; www-forms
> Subject: RE: XForms timer
> 
> Mark Birbeck wrote:
> >...To give an example, we want an author to be able to get 'Google
> suggest' 
> >style functionality just by using a drop-box, but we don't 
> want to go 
> >adding too much to formsPlayer that takes it away from 'pure'
> XForms.
> 
> I realize this is unrelated to the timer discussion, but I 
> believe XForms already allows the author to express the 
> intent you describe.
> It's up to vendors to present it properly ;-)
> 
> Leigh.
> 
> 
> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
> <!-- ***** BEGIN LICENSE BLOCK *****
> - Version: MPL 1.1/GPL 2.0/LGPL 2.1
> -
> - The contents of this file are subject to the Mozilla Public 
> License Version
> - 1.1 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in 
> compliance with
> - the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
> - http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/
> -
> - Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS"
> basis,
> - WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. 
> See the License
> - for the specific language governing rights and limitations under the
> - License.
> -
> - The Original Code is Open Selection Completion Example.
> -
> - The Initial Developer of the Original Code is
> -      Xerox Corporation
> -
> - Portions created by the Initial Developer are Copyright (C) 2006
> - the Initial Developer. All Rights Reserved.
> -
> - Contributor(s):
> -      Leigh L. Klotz, Jr.
> -
> - Alternatively, the contents of this file may be used under 
> the terms of
> - either the GNU General Public License Version 2 or later 
> (the "GPL"), or
> - the GNU Lesser General Public License Version 2.1 or later 
> (the "LGPL"),
> - in which case the provisions of the GPL or the LGPL are 
> applicable instead
> - of those above. If you wish to allow use of your version of 
> this file only
> - under the terms of either the GPL or the LGPL, and not to 
> allow others to
> - use your version of this file under the terms of the MPL, 
> indicate your
> - decision by deleting the provisions above and replace them 
> with the notice
> - and other provisions required by the LGPL or the GPL. If 
> you do not delete
> - the provisions above, a recipient may use your version of 
> this file under
> - the terms of any one of the MPL, the GPL or the LGPL.
> -
> - ***** END LICENSE BLOCK ***** -->
> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"
> xmlns:xf="http://www.w3.org/2002/xforms">
>   <head>
>     <title>Open Selection Completion Example</title>
>     <xf:model>
>       <xf:instance>
>         <data xmlns="">
>           <colors />
>         </data>
>       </xf:instance>
>       <xf:bind nodeset="colors" type="xf:listItems" />
>       <xf:instance id="colors">
>         <data xmlns="">
>           <color>red</color>
>           <color>green</color>
>           <color>blue</color>
>         </data>
>       </xf:instance>
>       <xf:bind nodeset="instance('colors')/color" 
> type="xf:listItem" />
>     </xf:model>
>   </head>
>   <body>
>     <h1>Open Selection Completion Example</h1>
>     <p>This example shows how an XForms user agent could 
> offer completion for select with open enumerations.</p>
>     <xf:group>
>       <ol>
>         <li>
>           <p>You can input whatever space-separated words you 
> want here, but you get no completion:</p>
>           <xf:input 
> ref="colors"><xf:label>Colors</xf:label></xf:input>
>         </li>
>         <li>
>           <p>This should be present the same as the above, 
> but with completion.</p>
>           <p>That is, you can input whatever space-separated 
> words you want here, <em>and</em> you get completion!</p>
>           <p>If it doesn't, ask your XForms vendor to make it so!</p>
>           <xf:select ref="colors" selection="open" 
> appearance="minimal">
>             <xf:label>Colors</xf:label>
>             <xf:itemset nodeset="instance('colors')/color">
>               <xf:label ref="." />
>               <xf:value ref="." />
>             </xf:itemset>
>           </xf:select>
>         </li>
>       </ol>
>     </xf:group>
>   </body>
> </html>
>  
> 
>

Received on Tuesday, 16 May 2006 23:27:16 UTC